Armchair
ca. 1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
When this chair was made, in about 1650, an armchair traditionally indicated the sitter's authority and high status in the household over those standing or using stools or floor cushions. The large size, impressive carved back panel and turned spindles of this armchair all contribute to its imposing character. A cushion would usually have been used on the board seat.
This chair has several distinctive design features - notably the prominent turned spindles, shaped arms and eye-catching carved panel with intertwined serpents, an ancient motif used traditionally in the area, combined with renaissance guilloche ornament. These relate it to a small group of similar armchairs that were probably made in the area bordering England and Wales. Like most 17th century furniture it has been repaired, notably on its feet where unusual metal sheet braces have been added.
On long term loan to Turton Tower, Bolton.
This chair has several distinctive design features - notably the prominent turned spindles, shaped arms and eye-catching carved panel with intertwined serpents, an ancient motif used traditionally in the area, combined with renaissance guilloche ornament. These relate it to a small group of similar armchairs that were probably made in the area bordering England and Wales. Like most 17th century furniture it has been repaired, notably on its feet where unusual metal sheet braces have been added.
On long term loan to Turton Tower, Bolton.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | carved oak |
| Brief description | Oak armchair with carved panel (serpents) and baluster turnings below the arms and back panel, English, ca. 1650 |
| Physical description | Joined armchair, of oak, with board seat and turned baluster spindles(unpegged) below the arms and below the back panel. The upper part of the back contains a panel carved in low relief with two intertwined dragons or serpents on a punched background, within a stylised leaf border. The top and mid-rails are carved with guilloche ornament. The arms are shaped distinctively in a flattened, undulating triangle, and are shallow-carved on the outer face with a stylised fern leaf in elevation. The back uprights are single pieces, with integral scratch moulding, and bead where they border the back panel.The front legs and arms supports are turned, and squared at the joints. The legs are united by four rectangular stretchers. The main joints are double-pegged except for the arms which are triple-pegged, front and back. The top rail is tenoned into the the back uprights. A small hole (purpose unclear) has been drilled at the top of the back panel, off-centre. Repairs and modifications The side and back stretchers possibly replaced. Four feet clad with sheet metal (painted), screwed and nailed. The seat appears to be original, supported on a new sub-panel. The front, back and right rails may be replacements. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | OW (Stamped on front face of back panel, at upper right.)
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| Object history | RF 24/7049 Bought £24 from C.G.Stirling, 30, Launceston Place, London W8 'From the collection of the Earl of Shaftesbury.' Inspected on loan at Turton Towers, Bolton, November 2011 |
| Summary | When this chair was made, in about 1650, an armchair traditionally indicated the sitter's authority and high status in the household over those standing or using stools or floor cushions. The large size, impressive carved back panel and turned spindles of this armchair all contribute to its imposing character. A cushion would usually have been used on the board seat. This chair has several distinctive design features - notably the prominent turned spindles, shaped arms and eye-catching carved panel with intertwined serpents, an ancient motif used traditionally in the area, combined with renaissance guilloche ornament. These relate it to a small group of similar armchairs that were probably made in the area bordering England and Wales. Like most 17th century furniture it has been repaired, notably on its feet where unusual metal sheet braces have been added. On long term loan to Turton Tower, Bolton. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.115-1924 |
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| Record created | February 13, 2007 |
| Record URL |
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